The Bloomberg Global Health Index.

One metric specifically designed to measure national health is the Bloomberg Global Health Index. This metric examines many factors, including the following:

  • Health risks (tobacco use, high blood pressure, obesity)
  • Availability of clean water
  • Average life expectancy
  • Malnutrition
  • Causes of death

According to the 2019 ranking, Spain‘s overall score of 92.75 qualified it as the healthiest country in the world. For comparison, the United States ranked 35th, with an overall score of 75. Spain boasts a life expectancy of 83.5 years, which is expected to rise to 85.8 by 2040 and be the highest in the world. Spaniards eat a Mediterranean diet filled with healthy fats and legumes, fruits and vegetables, and less red meat and processed food. Spain has the highest percentage of walkers in Europe, with 37% of people walking to work instead of driving (only 6% of Americans walk to work). Additionally, Spain’s universal healthcare program is very successful and has lowered the country’s rate of preventable deaths to 45.4 preventable deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

The Money Index

The UK website Money offered its own healthiest places to live rankings in 2021. Compared to some of the more complex metrics available, the Money index is based on six simple (but far-reaching) factors:

  1. Life expectancy
  2. Cost to be healthy
  3. Air pollution
  4. Obesity rates
  5. Safety
  6. Sunlight hours
Money Health Index - Spain
Money Health Index – Spain

Sources

  1. Global Health Security Index 2021 – Bloomberg
  2. These Are the World’s Healthiest Nations
  3. Healthiest Places to Live – Money UK
  4. Healthiest Countries 2023 (worldpopulationreview.com)

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